Western Railway’s monsoon measures: Micro-tunnelling, construction of boundary walls, pucca drains to prevent waterlogging on tracks

Q. As monsoons have arrived, what preparations are being made by the Western Railway Mumbai division to ensure no or minimal disruption in train service operations?

Niraj Verma: In preparation for the monsoon season and to minimise disruptions, the Western Railway Mumbai division has implemented several long-term measures. These include conducting micro tunnelling work at approximately 12 locations to prevent waterlogging. Additionally, a comprehensive survey of all low-lying areas was conducted to identify areas prone to water collection and potential disruption to train operations. Where there was a risk, appropriate measures were taken to mitigate it.

Approximately 5 to 6 kilometres of boundary walls have been constructed. This is particularly crucial in salt pan low-lying areas where water tends to stand and overflow onto the tracks. Vasai was one such problematic area where these walls were built. Around 5 kilometres of cemented pucca drains have been constructed to ensure proper water flow and drainage, preventing water accumulation on the tracks. Extensive maintenance activities have been carried out on suburban trains. This includes addressing issues related to electric sparking.

Q. Have passengers’ amenities also been taken care of during the rainy season?

Niraj Verma: Yes, to ensure passengers’ comfort and safety during the rainy season, we have addressed issues with rakes where the windows do not close properly. Even a small gap can cause problems and inconvenience to passengers during the rainy season. We have checked and fixed all passenger amenity items, particularly windows and doors. For the air-conditioned EMU rakes, we ensured that the overhead air conditioning equipment was properly maintained to prevent water leakage into the coaches.

We have also attended to the overhead electrical wires. Birds often build nests, which can cause short circuits. This issue has been addressed to prevent disruptions. Despite ongoing construction work, we have extended platform coverage in many places, creating new areas where passengers can sit.

Q. Punctuality remains a major issue and is exacerbated during the monsoon season. What would you say about that?

Niraj Verma: Yes, punctuality has been a significant concern, particularly during the monsoon season. In the last two months before the monsoon, a lot of work was accelerated, and many blocks were taken for the 5th and 6th line works, as well as for other Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation(MRVC) projects. This had a cascading impact on punctuality.

For example, at Borivali, during peak hours, there was a long failure due to a cable cut caused by an agency working under pressure to finish the work on time. This rush led to some mistakes. However, overall, the accelerated work has resulted in the creation of more facilities. If you observe, now punctuality has actually improved.

Q. As Western Railway has undertaken pre-monsoon measures, can you assure that the trains will run on time with minimal or no disruptions?

Niraj Verma: This year, we have undertaken a large number of critical infrastructure works aimed at ensuring smoother train movements and minimising disruptions. These efforts focus on ensuring there is a smooth flow of train movement.

Our primary focus has been on critical locations, ensuring that they no longer remain problematic by completing maximum work. We have also collaborated with the BMC to solve recurring issues. Additionally, we have a disaster management plan in place. Our fully functional control centre closely monitors water-logging areas and takes prompt action when necessary.

Q. What are the challenges faced by the Western Railway Mumbai division?

Niraj Verma: The Western Railway Mumbai division is highly complex. We run approximately 1,400 trains per day between Churchgate and Virar and Virar to Dahanu Road. The Churchgate section alone spans around 60 kilometres and has the highest number of suburban train services, with 95 rakes in service. It also has the largest fleet of air-conditioned services.

The Mumbai division is close to the coastline and features four tracks between Churchgate and Virar. There’s an additional Harbour line in certain stretches beyond Bandra up to Borivali, making it the fifth line. In some areas, these tracks extend to seven or eight tracks. The same tracks between Bandra and Mumbai Central from the Virar direction are also used by mail and express trains.

Additionally, some of the most prestigious trains that touch Mumbai, including the Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Vande Bharat, and other iconic long-distance trains operate on WR. Approximately 150 mail express trains run every day.

The extensive network has almost 650 signals up to Virar in both directions. Given this complexity, the network is maintained at a very high level of efficiency in coordination with several agencies like National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and India Meterological Department (IMD).